U.S. patent number 4,955,864 [Application Number 07/416,876] was granted by the patent office on 1990-09-11 for tube holding clamp.
Invention is credited to James D. Hajduch.
United States Patent |
4,955,864 |
Hajduch |
September 11, 1990 |
Tube holding clamp
Abstract
An improved apparatus for holding tubing, e.g., intravenous
tubing, comprises a clamp housing, and at least one tubing clip
secured to the housing and being capable of being opened and closed
to accept and hold, respectively, a segment of hollow tubing
without changing the cross-sectional shape of the segment of hollow
tubing. A method for holding a segment of hollow tubing is also
disclosed.
Inventors: |
Hajduch; James D. (Whiting,
IN) |
Family
ID: |
27023508 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/416,876 |
Filed: |
October 4, 1989 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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637019 |
Aug 2, 1984 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/174;
128/DIG.15; 128/DIG.26; 604/179; 606/151; 606/157 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
17/132 (20130101); A61M 25/02 (20130101); A61M
2025/024 (20130101); A61M 2025/028 (20130101); Y10S
128/26 (20130101); Y10S 128/15 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
17/12 (20060101); A61B 17/132 (20060101); A61M
25/02 (20060101); A61M 039/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/DIG.15,DIG.26
;604/174-179 ;606/151,157 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Layno; Benjamin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Uxa, Jr.; Frank J.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
637,019, filed Aug. 2, 1984 now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus useful for holding a segment of hollow tubing
comprising: clamp housing means; and clip means secured to said
clamp housing means, said clip means being sized and adapted to be
opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing and to be closed around
the segment of hollow tubing without substantially changing the
cross-sectional shape of the segment of hollow tubing and
substantially without frictionally contacting the segment of hollow
tubing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip means is structured
to be repeatedly opened and closed.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip means is removably
secured to said clamp housing means.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises clamp holding
means associated with said clamp housing means and adapted to
secure said clamp housing means to a stationary object.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus is for use in
treating a medical patient and said clamp holding means is adapted
to secure said clamp housing means to a stationary object other
than the medical patient being treated.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said clamp holding means
includes a hook or loop segment secured to said clamp housing means
and a securing means having a corresponding loop or hook segment
adapted to be associated with a stationary object, so that when
said securing means is secured to said stationary object, and said
hook or loop segment and said corresponding loop or hook segment
are fastened together, said clamp housing means is secured to said
stationary object.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises second clip
means secured to said clamp housing means and spaced apart from
said clip means, said second clip means being sized and adapted to
be opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing and to be closed
around the segment of hollow tubing without changing the
cross-sectional shape of the segment of the hollow tubing; and
sleeve means surrounding the segment of hollow tubing and located
between said clip means and said second clip means when both said
clip means and said second clip means are closed around the same
segment of hollow tubing, said sleeve means being sized so as not
to move from between said closed clip means and said closed second
clip means.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said clip means and said second
clip means are independently removably secured to said clamp
housing means.
9. A method for holding a segment of hollow tubing comprising:
providing a clamp comprising clamp housing means and clip means
secured to said clamp housing means, said clip means being sized
and adapted to be opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing and
to be closed around the accepted segment of hollow tubing:
placing a segment of hollow tubing in said clip means when said
clip means is opened,
closing said opened clip means around said segment of hollow tubing
in said clip means; and
maintaining said closed clip means around said segment of hollow
tubing without substantially changing the cross-sectional shape of
said segment of hollow tubing and substantially without
frictionally contacting said segment of hollow tubing.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said segment of hollow tubing is
used in the treatment of a medical patient.
11. A method for holding a segment of hollow tubing comprising:
providing a clamp comprising clamp housing means and spaced apart,
first and second clip means secured to said clamp housing means,
each of said first and second clip means being sized and adapted to
be opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing and to be closed
around the accepted segment of hollow tubing;
placing a segment of hollow tubing in each of said first and second
clip means when said first and second clip means, respectively, is
opened, provided that a portion of said segment of hollow tubing is
surrounded by a sleeve having a larger cross-section than said
segment of hollow tubing, and said sleeve is located between said
first and second clip means;
closing each of said opened first and second clip means around said
segment of hollow tubing in said first and second clip means,
respectively; and
maintaining said closed first and second clip means around said
segment of hollow tubing and between said sleeve without changing
the cross-sectional shape of said segment of hollow tubing.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said closed first and second
clip means are maintained around said segment of hollow tubing
substantially without frictionally contacting said segment of
hollow tubing.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein said sleeve acts further to
couple together two separate lengths of hollow tubing.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein said segment of hollow tubing
maintained between said closed first and second clip means is used
in the treatment of a medical patient.
15. An apparatus useful for holding a segment of hollow tubing
comprising: clamp housing means; first clip means secured to said
clamp means, said first clip means being sized and adapted to be
opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing and to be closed around
the segment of hollow tubing substantially without changing the
cross-sectional shape of the segment of hollow tubing;
second clip means secured to said clamp housing means and spaced
apart from said first clip means, said second clip means being
sized and adapted to be opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing
and to be closed around the segment of hollow tubing substantially
without changing the cross-sectional shape of the segment of the
hollow tubing; and sleeve means surrounding the segment of hollow
tubing and located between said first clip means and said second
clip means when both said first clip means and said second clip
means are closed around the same segment of hollow tubing, said
sleeve means being sized so as not to move from between said closed
first clip means and said closed second clip means.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first clip means and
said second clip means are independently removably secured to said
clamp housing means.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said sleeve means acts
further to couple together two separate lengths of hollow
tubing.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said first clip means
and said second clip means is sized and adapted to be closed around
the segment of hollow tubing substantially without frictionally
contacting the segment of hollow tubing.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said first clip means
and said second clip means is structured to be repeatedly opened
and closed.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises clamp holding
means associated with said clamp housing means and adapted to
secure said clamp housing means to a stationary object.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and methods for holding a
segment of hollow tubing, e.g., intravenous tubing. More
particularly, the present invention relates to such apparatus and
methods which have applicability in the medical and human health
care industries. This invention may also be used by
veterinarians.
The medical and health care industry is becoming more and more
sophisticated. It is often necessary, in order to properly treat
patients, to transport fluids, e.g., nutrients, blood, oxygen and
the like, via hollow tubes to and from a patient. Intravenous
feeding and medication is becoming common place. Kidney dialysis
involves repeated transporting of blood from and back to a
patient.
Often there are two or more separate lines or segments of hollow
tubing being used to treat a single patient. Unless care is taken,
these tubes can become tangled and, ultimately, restricted or
closed to the passage of fluid.
Recent advances in needle technology have resulted in the use of
flexible needles Such flexible needles are effective without
requiring that the member, e.g., the patient's arm or leg, in which
the needle is stuck be completely immobilized With prior rigid
needles, such immobilization was necessary to prevent needle
breakage and/or inadvertent removal from the member. Thus, flexible
needles allow more patient movement and, therefore, comfort during
treatment.
Many prior tubing clamps were structured to hold the tubing so
tightly as to, in effect, immobilize the patient. That is, the
prior tubing clamps often held the tubing so as to prevent
substantially any movement of the tubing or the patient. Also,
these prior tubing clamps, in holding the tubing tightly, often
"squeezed down" on the tubing and caused an unwanted and unneeded
constraint on the flow of fluid through the tubing.
A new apparatus and method useful for holding a segment of hollow
tubing has been discovered. The present apparatus effectively holds
the segment of hollow tubing so as to orient its longitudinal axis,
as desired, e.g., to avoid tangling with other segments of hollow
tubing. Importantly, however, the present apparatus does not
constrict the hollow tubing and, therefore, does not increase the
resistance to flow through the hollow tubing. In addition, the
present system can provide for holding a segment of hollow tubing
without immobilizing the tubing. This allows a medical patient to
whom the segment of hollow tubing is attached, e.g., through a
needle, to have substantial freedom of movement, thus making the
patient's treatment more comfortable and easy to withstand.
Further, the present apparatus is portable and adaptable to various
applications, and is easy and relatively inexpensive to
manufacture.
In one embodiment, the present apparatus comprises a clamp housing
means and clip means secured to the clamp housing means, preferably
removably secured to the clamp housing means. This clip means is
sized and adapted to be opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing
and to be closed around the segment of hollow tubing without
changing the cross-sectional shape of the segment of hollow tubing.
Preferably, this clip means is sized and adapted to be closed
around the segment of hollow tubing substantially without
frictionally contacting the segment of hollow tubing. In other
words, the clip means preferably provides substantially no
resistance to the axial movement of the segment of hollow tubing.
The present clip means is preferably structured to be repeatedly
opened and closed.
In a particularly useful embodiment, the present apparatus further
comprises second clip means secured, preferably removably secured,
to the clamp housing means and spaced apart from the clip means,
described above. This second clip means is sized and adapted to be
opened to accept a segment of hollow tubing and to be closed around
the segment of hollow tubing without changing the cross-sectional
shape of the segment of the hollow tubing. A sleeve is also
provided and surrounds the segment of hollow tubing, and is
preferably secured thereto. This sleeve is located between the two
clip means when both of the clip means are closed around the same
segment of hollow tubing. The sleeve is sized so as not to move
from between the two closed clip means. In this manner, the segment
of hollow tubing can be held in place by the two clip means without
changing the cross-sectional shape of the hollow tubing, and
preferably without frictionally contacting the hollow tubing.
The present apparatus preferably further comprises clamp holding
means associated with the clamp housing means and adapted to
secure, more preferably removably secure, the clamp housing means
to a stationary object, in particular an object other than the
medical patient being treated. In one embodiment, the clamp holding
means includes a hook or loop segment secured to the clamp housing
means and a securing means having a corresponding loop or hook
segment capable of being secured to a stationary object, so that
when the securing means is secured to the stationary object and the
hook or loop segment and the corresponding loop or hook segment are
fastened together, the clamp housing means is secured to the
stationary object. The clamp apparatus may include an elongated
strap means having a first surface of hooks and an opposing second
surface of loops. The elongated strap means is capable of acting as
the securing means or of being wrapped around a member, for
example, an extremity of a human being, and at least one segment of
tubing so that the first and second surfaces fasten together,
thereby maintaining the tubing in contact with the member.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for holding a
segment of hollow tubing is provided. In one embodiment, this
method comprises providing a clamp comprising a clamp housing means
and clip means secured to the clamp housing means. This clip means
is as described above. A segment of hollow tubing is placed in the
clip means when the clip means is open. The opened clip means is
closed around the segment of hollow tubing in the clip means and
maintained around the segment of hollow tubing without changing the
cross-sectional shape of the segment of hollow tubing.
In another embodiment, the present method for holding a segment of
hollow tubing comprises providing a clamp comprising clamp housing
means and spaced apart first and second clip means secured to the
clamp housing means. Each of the first and second clamp means is
sized and adapted in a manner similar to the clip means and second
clip means, respectively, described above. A segment of hollow
tubing is placed in each of the first and second clip means when
the first and second clip means, respectively, is opened. A portion
of the segment of hollow tubing is surrounded by, and preferably
secured to, a sleeve having a larger cross-section than the segment
of hollow tubing. This sleeve is located between the first and
second clip means. The first and second clip means are closed
around the segment of hollow tubing in the first and second clip
means and maintained around the segment of hollow tubing and
between the sleeve without changing the cross-sectional shape of
the segment of hollow tubing.
Substantial advantages are obtained from the present invention.
Among those advantages include preventing the tubing from becoming
tangled and/or from becoming obstructed to fluid flow.
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are
set forth in the following detailed description and claims,
particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which like parts bear like reference numerals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side frontal view, in perspective, of a tube clamp
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side frontal view, in perspective, of a bed rail clamp
suitable for use with the tube clamp shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a tube clamp, shown
generally at 10, which includes clamp housing 12, horizontal tube
clips 14 and 16, and vertical tube clips 18 and 19. Horizontal tube
clips 14 and 16 include adhesive mats 15 and 17, respectively, and
are removably secured to the top surface 20 of the upper wing 22 of
clamp housing 12. Vertical clamp 18 and 19 include adhesive mats 21
and 23 respectively and are removably secured to the side surface
25 of clamp housing 12. These adhesive mats are conventional and
allow tube clips 14, 16, 18 and 19 to be secured to clamp housing
12 or removed therefrom, as desired. Thus, each of the tubing clips
14, 16, 18 and 19 can be individually placed on clamp housing 12 in
any one of a number of positions to satisfy the requirements of the
application involved. Also, more or less tubing clips than the four
(4) shown in the drawings may be provided to meet the requirements
of the application involved. Extending downwardly from and secured
to the lower surface of upper wing 22 is a first loop surface
24.
Extending through the lower wing 26 of clamp housing 12 is a
threaded hole 28 which is adapted to receive threaded screw 30.
Screw head 32 is affixed to the top of threaded screw 30.
A second loop surface 34 is adhesively secured to the side of clamp
housing 12. It should be noted that tubing clamp 10 may include
more than one loop surface 34 or loop surface 34 may be placed
anywhere on clamp housing 12, as desired, to function, e.g., as
described below. Also, any or all of the loop surfaces and the hook
surfaces described herein may be changed to hook and loop surfaces,
respectively, as desired, provided that when any two of these
surfaces are brought together, as described herein, a hook-loop
fastener combination is obtained.
Strap 36 includes an outer hook surface 38 and an inner loop
surface 40. This inner loop surface 40 is shown in FIG. 1 as being
an extension of second loop surface 34.
Clamp housing 12 has a hole 42 extending down from the top of clamp
housing 12. Hole 42 is adapted to receive and hold a writing
instrument, e.g., pen 44, for the use and convenience of the
medical practitioner using tubing clamp 10.
Referring to FIG. 2, bed rail clamp, shown generally at 46,
includes a clamp hook surface 48 and two bed rail holders 50 and 52
which can be adapted to wrap around and become secured to a
circular pole, such as a bed rail.
Referring now to FIG. 4, horizontal tube clip 16 includes adhesive
mat 17, first clip element 54 and second clip element 56. Each of
the other tube clips 14, 18 and 19 are structured and operated
analogously to tube clip 16. To open tube clip 16, first clip
element 54 is separated from second clip element 56 and moved to
the left side, as shown in FIG. 4. With tube clip 16 opened, hollow
tubing segment 58 is placed between first and second clip elements
54 and 56, which are then brought together to close tube clamp 16
around hollow tubing segment 58. A conventional snap-type mechanism
60 is provided to securely close tube clip 16. In this closed
configuration, tube clip 16 forms a hollow space 62 which has a
larger diameter than the outer diameter of hollow tubing segment
58. Thus, even with tube clip 16 closed around hollow tubing
segment 58, tube clip 16 does not change or distort the
cross-sectional shape of hollow tubing element 58, nor does it come
into frictional contact with hollow tubing segment 58. In this
manner, tubing clip 16 controls the axial orientation of hollow
tubing segment 58, but does not restrict the flow of fluid through
hollow space 64 of hollow tubing segment 58, nor does it restrict
the axial movement of hollow tubing segment 58. Thus, the patient
to whom hollow tubing segment 58 is attached to is able to move
quite freely about while undergoing treatment, thus making the
treatment more comfortable, or at least more bearable.
Referring now to FIG. 3, vertical tube clips 18 and 19 are shown.
Tube clip 18 includes adhesive mat 21, first clip element 66 and
second clip element 68. Tube clip 19 includes adhesive map 23,
first clip element 70 and second clip element 72. Two similarly
structured lengths of hollow tubing 74 and 76 are abutted together
at region 78. A sleeve 80 surrounds first and second lengths of
hollow tubing 74 and 76 and acts to adhesively hold first and
second lengths of tubing 74 and 76 together at region 78. Sleeve 80
is located between tube clips 18 and 19 and has a cross-sectional
area so that when tube clips 18 and 19 are closed, sleeve 80 can
not pass through either of the spaces 82 or 84 formed by tube clip
18 and 19, respectively. In this manner, first and second lengths
of hollow tubing 74 and 76 are "locked" in place without the tube
clips 18 and 19 distorting the cross-sectional shape of or
restricting the flow of fluid through the hollow space 86 formed by
the lengths of hollow tubing 74 and 76.
Conventional flow restrictors 87 are secured to the hollow tubing
to control the flow of fluid through the hollow tubing. These flow
restrictors can be set, as desired, without any interference, e.g.,
flow-restriction, caused by the presence of the tubing clip or
clips.
Tubing clamp 10 functions as follows. First, tubing clamp 10 is
secured in place. Ordinarily, this is accomplished by positioning
tubing clamp 10 so that a stationary object other then the medical
patient being treated is between first loop surface 24 and screw
head 32. Threaded screw 30 is then turned until tubing clamp 10 is
secured to the stationary object. If this is not possible, e.g.,
because the stationary object is irregularly shaped, strap 36 is
wrapped around the stationary object and then fastened to second
loop surface 34, thereby securing tubing clamp 10 to the stationary
object. If it is desired to secure tubing clamp 10 to a bed rail
(or other similar object), bed rail holders 50 and 52 are wrapped
around and secured to the bed rail and clamp hook surface 48 is
brought into contact with first loop surface 24 to form a hook-loop
fastener and secure tubing clamp 10 to the bed rail.
In any event, once tubing clamp 10 is secured, it is ready for use.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is desired to have tubes 58 and 88 both run
horizontally. Therefore, tube clips 14 and 16 are suitably
positioned on the top surface 20 of upper wing 24 of clamp housing
12. Tube clips 14 and 16 are then opened to receive hollow tubing
segments 88 and 58, respectively, and then closed so as to loosely
hold hollow tubing segments 88 and 58. Tubing lengths 74 and 76 are
secured together with sleeve 80, e.g., using adhesive and/or other
conventional techniques of securing a polymeric sleeve to polymeric
tubing, and then placed in tube clips 18 and 19 so that sleeve 80
is located therebetween. This arrangement allows tubing clips 18
and 19 to effectively lock the tubing lengths 74 and 76 in place
without interfering with the flow of fluid through these tubing
lengths. Sleeve 80 is secured to tubing lengths 74 and 76 so that
substantially no change in the cross-sectional shape of the tubing
lengths 74 and 76 occurs. Thus, the sleeve 80 provides
substantially no additional resistance to the flow of fluid through
the tubing lengths 74 and 76.
In the event strap 36 is not used to secure tube clamp 10 in place,
it may be wrapped around the area of the patient, e.g., the
patient's arm, where the tube or tubes enter the body to hold the
tube or tubes in place. When strap 26 is wrapped around any area of
the patient, it may also be wrapped around at least one segment of
hollow tubing, e.g., to maintain the tubing in contact with the
patient. Thus strap 36 may be used in place of tape for patients
who are allergic to tape. In addition, strap 36 may be used in this
manner repeatedly whereas tape is costly and can only be used
once.
While this invention has been described with respect to various
specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto and that is can be variously
practiced within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *